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By W. G. Stevenson

With the author's background of extensive experience, this paper delineates the role of the prospector in modern-day exploration programs. The stages in the development of a prospect to a producing mineral district are outlined, and examples are given from the Ross River area of the Yukon Territory and the Peachland and Highland Valley areas of British Columbia.

Jan 1, 1970

By R. D. Brown

"""A matter of serious concern to the mining industry in British Columbia""; this comment reflects the attitude of the Mining Association of British Columbia toward the proposed new B.C. Mineral Royalties Act. The proposed legislation, introduced by the provincial government in February and now being debated by the legislature, combines a basic 5% royalty on the selling price, less approved p1ocessing and transpo1•tation costs, of minerals produced in B.C. with an ""excess"" royalty of 50% of any price increases over a predetetmined base. Government estimates project annual revenues of $20 million from the new royalty structure. The accuracy of these figures has been contested by the mining industry. Based on current world prices for copper the industry estimates that the provincial revenues from this mineral alone may run as high as $140 million in 1974 and $150 million in 1975. The Mining Association has warned that the new royalties “threaten to become confiscatory""."

Jan 1, 1974

By J. A. MacLellan

"CONSTRUCI'ION OF SHERRITT'S CONCENTRATORSSherritt Gordon is operating two mills north of the 56th parallel, and is presently engaged in building a third. The author was closely involved in the design and construction of all three of these concentrators.The Lynn mill is the oldest of these three concentrators-it is a 4,000 ton per day nickel-copper plant built in 1953. The Fox mill is a 3,000 ton per day copper-zinc concentrator built in 1970. The Ruttan mill will be a 10,000 ton per day copper-zinc plant scheduled to go on line in July 1973.LYNN MILL The Lynn mill including the crushing, concentrating, drying and load out plant is about 69,700 square feet or 17.4 square feet per ton per day. '!his plant was originally built in 1927 at Sherridon, 150 miles south of Lynn Lake, as a 2,000 ton per day copper-zinc plant. In 1952 the plant was moved by tractor train to Lynn Lake. The whole plant was re-oriented within the original perimeter walls as a 2,000 ton per day nickel-copper plant. This plant was expanded to 4,000 tons per day by the addition of t1-Jo rod mills and a 5-1/2 short head crusher in 1959.The Sherridon mill processed its last ore in Sherridon in September 1951 and the first load of nickel concentrate was loaded at Lynn Lake on November 9, 1953 when the railroad arrived at Lynn Lake.The site for the Lynn Lake mill was cleared of overburden in the summer of 1952 and foundations for structural steel and SO!l8 equipment foundations were poured the late summer and fall of 1952 • Steel was erected from January to June 1953. Most of the equipment came in from January to March of 1953 by tractor sleighs. Sane sleighs upset but no equipment was lest through the ice."

Jan 1, 1972

By Peter Price

Introduction The Horne mine, the property of Noranda Mines, Limited, has in the last six years become one of Canada's leading gold and copper producers. Since the smelter was blown-in during December, 1927, up to the end of 1933, it has produced approximately 1,200,000 oz. of gold and 35O,OOO,OOO lb. of copper. The property is situated within an area occupied entirely by pre-Cambrian rocks and characterized by the complexity of rock types and structures common in such terrain. But apart from this the mine also presents other features of unusual interest in the size, number, and variety of the ore-bodies, the mineralogical associations, and the rather exceptional values both in gold and copper. It is not surprising, therefore, that a study of the geology of the mine should bring to light many interesting problems. The present paper summarizes, as concisely as possible, the results of such a study. Actually, it is a much abridged version of a more comprehensive and detailed paper completed by the writer a year ago (1), but embodying certain corrections and additional data made possible as a result of further development at the mine and of field work carried out during the summer of 1933. Owing to limitations of space, the paper is, in the main, a presentation of conclusions arrived at in the course of the study. Much of the supporting evidence cited in the thesis referred to has, of necessity, been omitted here.

Jan 1, 1934

By Ian Hattie, Mark R. Wilson, T. Kurtis Kyser, Brian W. Janser

Petrographic, chemical and isotopic compo itions of auriferous and non-auriferous quartz vei ns from the Sta r Lake and Flin Flin-Amisk Lake areas of northern Saskatchewan indicate diver e origins fo r the fluids associated with gold mineralization. In the Sta r Lake area, the metavolcanic , Star Lake pl uton, and heared mafic dikes have retained their original igneous 81 80 values. The 81 80 value of quartz from mi neralized veins vary by I per mi! and range from+I0 to+IJ. The only quartz ample having a 81 80 value outside th is range came from a vein not associated wi th a dike or gold mineralization . Quartz from the Star Lake pluton has identical 8180 value to the qua rtz from mi neralized vei ns which suggests that the vei ns and the pluton are related to imilar proces es. The diffe rence in 81 80 values between mi neralized and barren vein may erve a a potential exploration tool in this area. Because o34S val ues of a limi ted number of amples of pyrite from gold-bearing quartz vei ns at Star Lake correlate directly with gold content. the gold may have been syngenetic with the su lphur and the 834 value may be useful for exploration . 8180 values of co-existing quartz, calcite, and amphibole in the veins from Star Lake indicate that isotopic disequilibrium among the minerals is common, but the val ues also record a high temperature of formation (ea . 500°C) involvi ng a component of magmatic fl uid. TheoD value of hydrou mineral from Star Lake retain their original igneous values but whole rock values are generally much lower, an effect attributed to interaction of the minerals with a late meteoric water. In the Fl in Flin-Amisk Lake area, auriferou and barren quartz veins formed from a mixture of hydrothermal and metamorph ic flu id at lower temperatures (ea . 350°C) than those at Sta r Lake. Becau e there i no apparent correlation between 8180 values of the quartz with gold content or relative age of the vein , nor between the 834S val ues of pyrite and gold content, table isotopes appear limited as an exploration tool in the Fl in FlonAmisk Lake areas.

Jan 1, 1986

By G. Bonin, A. Jamal, G. Preciado, S. Gillis

"Accurate, easy to obtain, and reliable methods of measurement are the cornerstone of shaft and tunnel developments - during their sinking, operation and maintenance, or in some cases, remediation. This paper presents a new methodology to capture existing shaft conditions in such a manner that they can be transferred from the field to a digital copy, where they can be stored and used for engineering design purposes in a space not directly affected by the costs associated with schedule and equipment performance. The methodology utilizes basic principles of excavation alignment (plumb lines and survey instruments) while adding modern LiDAR, geolocation and survey control tools that can more completely capture the surrounding environment. The complete cycle of collection, processing, and delivery of pertinent information underground can take under an hour. During sinking, capturing data as a live stream measurement and being able to assess the alignment of the shaft liner can be critical to meeting rigid design tolerances. As sinking progresses, small changes in alignment or liner deviations can be captured and immediately corrected. Likewise, post-construction as-built conditions can be recorded and digitized, which will allow the mine personnel to compare the proper working condition to the actual condition years later. Observed changes can be identified and planned as future shaft repair works. This methodology has been developed and successfully deployed during the on-going sinking works of the two shafts at the Jansen Potash Project in south-central Saskatchewan and is described in greater detail in this paper.INTRODUCTION Light Detection and Ranging (or LiDAR) scans of the BHP Jansen Production and Service shafts during construction identified sections of both shafts where the internal radius of the temporary primary liner was insufficient to accommodate the tolerances of the permanent liner that was to be installed inside the temporary liner. These locations are referred to as “tights”. The “Tights Removal Program” was designed to collect high resolution point clouds of the shaft, using stringent survey control, that could be compared to the design profile to generate a heat map of locations for removal of up to 75 mm of steel-fiber-reinforced, 70 MPa concrete liner. This work was all on critical path, which made it valuable to save time on the schedule. Because concrete removal was a time-intensive task, it was essential to locate and remove only the concrete that would encroach on the planned permanent liner, while attempting to maximize the amount of cutting time. Removal was carried by a road header attached to a Brokk(R) 160, a small multi-attachment demolition machine."

Jan 1, 2019

By A. Anderko, R. D. Springer, R. D. Young

A thermodynamic model has been developed for calculating phase equilibria and other properties of multicomponent electrolyte systems. The model has been designed to reproduce the properties of both aqueous and mixed-solvent electrolyte systems ranging from infinite dilution to solid saturation or pure solute limit. The model incorporates formulations for the excess Gibbs energy and standard-state properties coupled with an algorithm for detailed speciation calculations. The excess Gibbs energy model consists of a long-range interaction contribution represented by the Pitzer-Debye-Hiickel expression, a second virial coefficient-type term for specific ionic interactions and a short-range interaction term expressed by the UNIQUAC equation. The accuracy of the model has been demonstrated for common acids and bases and for multicomponent systems containing aluminum species in various environments.

Jan 1, 2005

By Andrew Dobson, Cheryl Allen, Enrique Acuña

"Totten Mine return air raise was designed with two parallel fans equipped with silencers to reduce the noise emitted from the outlets into the environment. As development and production of the mine progressed through the past years, the silencer system needed to be upgraded, and additional maintenance strategies have been necessary to meet the regulatory noise limits enforced by the province of Ontario. The current mine plan will require the fans to reach the upper limit of their capacity by Q1 2019. To achieve this operational target, additional silencing capability has been required and Totten Mine has explored alternatives to further extend the noise silencing capacity available considering the current constraints at the mine site. The alternatives included a new silencer baffle design and a new layout that have allowed doubling the length of the silencer system. Using acoustic measurement data collected on several occasions, this paper presents and discusses the performance of the various silencing systems which have been installed on the return air fans at Totten Mine.INTRODUCTION Vale Canada Limited’s Totten Mine is a base metal, underground mine extracting nickel and copper, situated in the Sudbury Basin of Ontario. The mine initiated operations at the end of 2013, and is equipped with two main return air fans and two main fresh air fans located on surface. Both fresh air and return air fans are set in a parallel arrangement to operate as integrated units and are equipped with variable frequency drives (VFDs) to allow for the remote modification of their operating set point, usually between 600 to 880 rpm, depending on the mine’s requirements. The main return air raise (RAR) fans are also equipped with dissipative baffle silencers to attenuate the noise emitted to the environment. Approximately four years ago, acoustical measurements conducted to verify compliance with the applicable regulatory criteria, and respond to noise concerns from neighboring residents, concluded that the sound emissions of the main return air raise exceeded the noise design parameters. The acoustic tones of the fans were audible offsite, at a residential location, approximately 9 km northeast of the mine site. The elevated sound levels and offsite audibility was due to degradation of the original discharge silencers from moisture and particulate being drawn from underground workings and passing through the silencer baffles. The audibility was also due to an outlet directivity pattern which directed noise towards the residential location."

Jan 1, 2019

By T. Orser

In 2010 Newmont made the decision to purchase a 42 foot (ft) Semi-Autogenous Grinding (SAG) mill from Metso and a 28 Mega-Watt (MW) Gearless Mill Drive (GMD) from ABB for the Conga Project in Peru. The test and study work showed that a single line 42 ft SAG mill circuit gave the most favorable project economics in comparison to an equivalently powered single line 40 ft SAG mill circuit. This paper does not address the process design or the project economics, but instead focuses on the key aspects of the SAG mill design, GMD design and the associated component manufacturing. This paper also addresses, where applicable, the potential reliability differences between the initially proposed 40 ft SAG mill and the finally accepted 42 ft SAG mill.

Jan 1, 2012

By G. V. Fernandez

Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde S.A.A leaches secondary copper sulfides. In recent years, the mine has introduced innovations that have improved the management of mineral crushing, agglomeration, curing, and leaching. The crushing plant, for example, uses the concepts of degree of balance and percentage of time in an operationally balanced state which, displayed in real time, facilitate more intensive and uniform utilization of the crushers. High agglomerate quality is ensured with the correct dose of moisture, which is adjusted to the changing characteristics of the mineral through the use of electrical conductivity measurements. The amount of acid used for curing the agglomerate is also adjusted by using quality control information. Finally, the stockpile irrigation regime is managed using the criteria established by the "Lixiviant Request Rate", which optimizes the addition of leaching solution, creating such benefits as faster recovery, and reduced acid and energy consumption.

Jan 1, 2007

By F J. Kelly

A chemical process, based on laboratory investigations, is proposed for the production of high-purity niobium oxide from a pyrochlore-perovsk1te flotation concentrate produced from ore obtained at the Oka, Quebec property of Columbium Mining Products Limited. The method developed included the decomposition and dissolution of the flotation concentrate with hot, concentrated sulphuric acid. The dissolved niobium was purified and concentrated by a solvent extraction step, using methyl isobutyl ketone as the extractant. The niobium was recovered from the extractant with ammonium fluoride solution from which niobium oxide was precipitated with ammonia. Finally, the filtered and washed precipitate was calcined. Ninety-six per cent of the niobium was recovered in a product analysing 99.9 per cent Nzo.. The reagent cost was in the range of $1.00 to $1.25 per pound of niobium recovered. Introduction OVER the past few years, Columbium Mining Products Limited has been engaged in the development of a niobium-bearing mineral deposit in the vicinity of Oka, Quebec. One phase of this program resulted in a flotation process capable of producing concentrates containing up to 50 per cent Nb205? Flotation pilot-plant

Jan 1, 1965

By M. Barati, K. Ebrahimi-Nasrabadi, P. W. Scott

"The conversion of cryptocrystalline magnesite to caustic magnesia was studied experimentally at temperatures of 400–1,200°C and for calcination times of up to 8 h. A differential thermal analysis– thermal gravimetric analysis showed that decomposition begins at temperatures as low as 340°C and is completed at 600°C. Specific surface area, iodine adsorption number, crystallite size, and loss on ignition were measured to characterize the product quality. It was found that high-quality caustic calcined magnesia can be produced in a narrow temperature (600–650°C) and time range (1–4 h).RÉSUMÉ La conversion de magnésite cryptocristalline en magnésie caustique a été étudiée de manière expérimentale à des températures de 400 à 1200 °C et pour des temps de calcination atteignant 8 heures. Une analyse thermique différentielle – analyse thermique gravimétrique montre que la décomposition commence à des températures aussi basses que 340 °C et qu’elle est complète à 600 °C. La surface spécifique, l’indice d’adsorption de l’iode, la taille des cristaux et la perte au feu ont été mesurés afin de caractériser la qualité du produit. Il a été trouvé qu’une magnésie caustique calcinée de grande qualité peut être produite dans un petit écart de température (600 à 650 °C) et dans une période de temps variant entre 1 et 4 heures."

Jan 1, 2015

By Yang Shuxin, Guo Qiliang, He Ping, Lu Lizhi, Yao Rui

"We combined stepwise regression and constrained regression statistical method to obtain the best boundary conditions for the calculation of in-situ stress field in Wushaoling tunnel using finite element method. Our numerical results reveal that: the main geologic factors contributing to the initial background stress are gravity and tectonics; the principal stress values would drop in fault zones; the angle between the maximal horizontal stress and the axis of Wushaoling tunnel is acute; Wushaoling tunnel tends to become stable when this tunnel has 2:1 ratio of the height to its width; the possibility of rock-burst exists under high stress.INTRODUCTIONStress state of engineering region is an important factor affecting the stability of project. Geological disasters in the project area are closely related to their stress environment. Wushaoling tunnel which is 20,050 meters long, lying along Lanzhou-Wuwei segment of Lan-Xin Railway in China, is the key project of Lan-Wu double-track railway. The region surrounding this tunnel is under a high stress environment. Accurate identification of the stress environment of the engineering area and the interaction between geomaterials and geotechnical engineering construction holds significant scientific and practical value for engineering design, construction, and operation.Many scholars explored and discussed the present-day tectonic stress through investigations of tectonic evolution history (Ding, & Lu, 1986), crustal deformation (Zoback, 1992), focal mechanisms (Yang et al., 2003, Xie, Cui, & Zhao, 2004), and so forth. However, the above methods would only provide the approximate direction of the principal stress in a broad region, and could not give the absolute stress values. In-situ stress measurement is one of the primary means to directly gauge the current crustal stress. However, in-situ stress measurement can only be applied in small number limited by measurement conditions."

Jan 1, 2015

By Mark Sherman

One of the main functions of a process technology and engineering services provider is to select grinding equipment that will meet the client?s throughput rate target. Prudent risk mitigation strategies would suggest that throughput rate estimates be cross-checked using a variety of techniques. Whilst some comminution circuit designers have estimated specific energy requirements via the manipulation of the Bond specific power equation e.g. Barratt?s Grindpower and OMC?s FSAG approach, other designers have opined that the Bond Indices have no role to play in the calculation of SAG mill specific power. As a result, they have developed their own specific energy estimating methodologies, e.g. SMCC?s Drop Weight based power methodology, SPI, SAGDesign, etc. Each method has its supporters and its critics. The challenge facing the engineering provider is how to nominate an SAG mill based circuit throughput rate estimate when faced with significantly disparate specific energies calculated by the different methodologies. This challenge is exacerbated via the continuing evolution of contemporary circuit configurations such as two stage pebble crushing some of which incorporate HPGR technology as the second stage of pebble crushing. The methodology presented in this paper shows that the Bond Indices are an excellent tool for estimating the specific energy requirements for SAG mills in SAB, SABC and SSS circuits. The method accommodates primary crushed feeds, partial and or fully secondary crushed SAG mill feeds, and emulates the impact of pebble crushing on SAG specific energy. As a result, the new Bond Index based method has provided an additional tool for increasing Fluor?s confidence when predicting SAG mill based circuit throughput rates. Based on this outcome, the author proposes that the decades old conundrum of using Bond Indices to calculate SAG specific energies for SAG mill based circuits has been solved.

Jan 1, 2012

By Nelson C. White

This paper summarizes the present state and future prospects of the potash industry, with special reference to its impact on production in Saskatchewan.

Jan 1, 1968

By Andrew J. Freyman, Graham T. Armstrong

"In September, 1968, a survey of operating mines in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories was undertaken to determine the role of Indigenes (Indian, Metis, Eskimo) on the mines, and the attitude of mine management to these employees. The operating mines in the Territories had (at that date) a total employment of 2,002 men, of which 91 (4.5 per cent) were Indigenes. Indigenes make up 45 per cent of the Territorial population (18 per cent in the Yukon and 63 percent in the Northwest Territories). The paper documents some of the problems associated with indigenous employment in mines. A study was undertaken to determine the role of Indigenes (Indians, Metis, Eskimos) in operating mines in the Yukon and in the North-west Territories. In addition to the mines north of the 60th parallel, the experience of several other Canadian mines was examined. The general picture obtained is considered to be representative of the Canadian mining industry."

Jan 1, 1969

By G. J. Hamilton

"THE Royalite-Canada Southern Coleville No. 1 gas strike of August 15th, 1951, and the closely following low gravity black-oil strike of August 23rd, were the first of a series of recent oil and gas discoveries in western Saskatchewan. They are in what is now known as the Coleville field, 25 miles north and west of Kindersley and 30 miles east of the Alberta-Saskatchewan border (Figure 1).Gas flows have been recorded in the Viking sand at daily rates of between 5 and 10 million cubic feet, and black oil of 15° A.P.I. gravity is produced from Mississippian sediments of Banff age at a daily rate .of 50 to 100 barrels on pump.Development drilling was carried on during the winter months, with very little attempt at step-out exploratory ventures. This year, however, a step-out programme to the northeast (Figure 2) is •being carried on in order to determine the position of a possible truncation of Mississippian sediments in that direction. Section 30 of the Coleville area has been fully developed on a 20-acre wellsite basis, and structural information is restricted to local rather than regional interpretation. No attempt will be made in this paper to interpret the Coleville area with respect to the regional geology in any but a general manner."

Jan 1, 1952

By L. D. Snyder, J. K. Russell

"The Lower Jurassic Iron Mask batholith intrudes Upper Triassic Nicola Group volcanic rocks in the Quesnellia terrane of southcentral British Columbia and hosts Cu-Au mineralization. The batholith comprises three mappable intrusive phases, including: Pothook gabbro to diorite, Cherry Creek monzodiorite to monzonite and Sugarloaf diorite. The Iron Mask hybrid forms a fourth mappable unit that makes up to 45% of the areal exposure in the batholith. It is highly variable in texture and composition and subdivided into three types; Type I and II have abundant (partially digested) xenoliths, many of which are derived from the Nicola Group, whereas Type III is xenolith-poor and shows extreme outcrop-scale textural diversity.Pothook and Cherry Creek rocks are similar in texture, mineralogy, whole rock and mineral composition and style of alteration. Contacts between the two can be intrusive or gradational. Rocks collected from these two suites have compositions that are permissive of a single magma batch, although simple crystal fractionation does not explain all chemical variations within and between the two suites. The Sugarloaf unit comprises a diverse group of amphibole-phyric rock types and is texturally and mineralogically distinct from Pothook and Cherry Creek suites.The Iron Mask hybrid represents progressive stages of physical and chemical interaction between Nicola Group country rocks and Pothook magma. Magmatic assimilation (selective or partial) is supparted on the basis of field relationships, petrographic observations, and REB compositional data. Thermal dehydration and partial assimilation of Nicola Group rocks by Pothook magma is shown to be a valid means of promoting early and extensive volatile saturation in the Iron Mask batholith."

Jan 1, 1995

By R. J. R. Schaller

NO. 3 winze, the sixth shaft to be sunk on the San Antonio property, is practically a duplicate of No. 3 shaft, which was the main shaft prior to the installation of the larger hoisting equipment in 1939. It is collared on the tenth, or 1,500-ft., level, and goes down vertically to the sixteenth, or 2,500-ft., level, with a loading pocket, spill pocket, and sump below this. It is 1,000 feet east of No. 3 shaft. All ore, men, and materials are handled through the latter. The winze location with reference to the rock formation is shown in Figure 1. (In plan, this section strikes N.30°E. and cuts most of the main orebodies of the mine normal to their strike.) It is collared eighty feet inside the footwall contact of the basalt and cuts through it before reaching the eleventh level. In this location there will be no ore tied up in shaft pillars, as the closest ore to the shaft is on the tenth level, and here it is eighty feet northeast of the collar. The winze headframe and hoist-room straddle the main haulage to the No. 3 shaft, on the tenth level (see Figure 2). At no time during the excavation for the headframe and hoist-room was the general routine work of this haulage held up.

Jan 1, 1941

By C. Edwards

"The processes for rare earth (RE) extraction include the decomposition of RE ore concentrate minerals, and the concurrent or subsequent leaching of the rare earth elements (REEs) from the decomposed minerals. Ore beneficiation concentrate can be decomposed by, for example, acid roasting, caustic cracking, and chlorination. The REEs can be selectively extracted. The nature of the REE extraction process depends on the concentrate mineralogy and the targeted products. Based on the experience of the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) in RE processing, this paper reviews REE extraction from the major RE minerals, including bastnaesite, monazite, xenotime, ion-adsorption clay, allanite, cerite, and eudialyte. An update on the development of RE extraction processes is also provided.INTRODUCTIONRE processing usually involves two operation stages, physical processing and chemical processing. Physical processing, also known as ore beneficiation, separates the RE minerals from gangue minerals to produce an RE mineral concentrate. Chemical processing, which includes extraction and separation processes, converts the RE mineral concentrate to an RE compound which is either an end product or an intermediate product for the subsequent production of individual REEs or other compounds. The RE extraction process uses one or more reagents to decompose the RE minerals and to leach the REEs into solution. The RE separation process uses solvent extraction, ion-exchange, or chemical precipitation to produce either rare earth oxides (REOs) or individual REEs. The authors have previously reviewed RE ore beneficiation processes (Zhang & Edwards, 2012). This paper focuses on extraction processes for a variety of RE minerals. Table 1 gives the chemical compositions of the RE minerals mentioned in this paper. The varieties of RE extraction methods use many different reagents. These reagents are mainly inorganic acids, alkalis, salts, and chlorine gas. The commonly used acids include sulfuric acid (H2SO4), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and nitric acid (HNO3). Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) are the most common alkalis. Salts include ammonium sulphate ((NH4)2SO4), ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), and sodium chloride (NaCl). HCl is normally used to extract RE from silicate ore minerals such as allanite and gadolinite. The alkalis and H2SO4 are mainly used to leach REs from phosphate ores minerals like monazite and xenotime. The carbonate ore RE minerals such as bastnaesite can be treated using either acids or alkalis. HNO3 is mainly used to leach eudialyte and apatite. The extraction of REs from ionadsorption clay deposits uses salt solutions. Chlorine gas (Cl2) is exclusively used in the RE chlorination process which can be used to treat any RE minerals."

Jan 1, 2012